Plural lamp-socket.



R. B. BENJAMIN.

PLURAL LAMP SOCKET.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28

Patented Septf15, 1908.

I Jrzvewiar: M 73- W,

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIon.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN ELECTRIO i\IANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS. I

PLURAL LAMP-SOCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 15, 1908 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented newand useful Improvements in Plural Lamp Sockets, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in plural lamp-sockets, and particularly to a type of lamp-socket which is provided with a plug having suitable contacts adapted to cooperate with the contacts of an ordinary lamp receptacle.

The object of the invention is the provision of a device of this class which is simple in construction and economical in manufacture,

and, at the same time, efiicient and durable.

In the drawings Figure 1 shows, in central vertical section, a form of device embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the same, the section being taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1-, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but shows a modified form of the device.

In the several figures, in which like reference characters indicate the same parts throughout, 5 is a plug provided with a centrally-disposed pro ection 6 on its outer end. Sleeved on the plug 5 is a shell 7 ,forming the outer contact of the plug. This shell has an inturned outer end 8 and an outturned inner end 9, forming a flange extending around the shell. Secured to the flange 9 is a plate 10, this plate being circular and having a central circu ar opening 1 1 through which extends a projection 12 on the inner end of the plug 5. This projection 12 centers the plate'lO on the plug. The plate 10 is formed with wings or extensions 14 and 15, which extensions con. stitute the center contacts for the lamps. The plate 10 is secured to the flange 9 by screws 16.-

The plug 5 is formed with a central opening 17 through which extends a bolt 18, the

upper end of which constitutes the center contact for the plug and upon the lower end of which is supported a plate 19. This late 19 carries an outer contact for each 0 the lamps, and when the device is adapted for lamps of the Edisontype, this plate 19 will carry the lamp sockets 20 and'21.

A sleeve 22, which may beforrned of a short piece of fiber tubing or the like, is sleeved on over the inner end of the bolt 18 and abuts the inner end of the plug. When the bolt 18 cover 23 is provided with openings through which extend the lamp-holding shells 20 and 21 and engages around its upper edge, the

fiber or the like and is provided with a central opening through which extends the plug. This disk forms one side of the casing of the device. Insulating sleeves 25 and 26 surround the lamp holding shells 20 and 21, and outside of these insulating sleeves are metallic rings or sleeves 27 and 28 secured to the cover 23. p

In the form of the device shown in Fig. 3 a ring 29, formed of cylindrical Wire, is adapted to assist in holding the lamp-shells 20 and 21 in place and to give added rigidity to the structure. I

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

1. In a plug-cluster a plug adapted to cooperate with a suitable socket and carrying a" plurality of lamp-holding devices, said plug having a center contact upon its outer end and an outer contact member extending longitudinally thereof, a plate secured to the inner end of said outer contact member and forming an inner lamp terminal-contact, and a plate in electrical connection with the center contact of said plug, said last-named plate carrying a lurality of lamp holding devices. 2. In a p ug-cluster, a plug adapted to cooperate with a suitable socket and carrying a plurality of lamp-holding devices, said plug having a center contact upon its outer end and an outer contact-member extending longitudinally thereof, a plate secured to the inner end of said outer contact member and forming an inner lamp-terminal-contact. and a plate in electrical connection with'the center contact of said plug, said last named plate carrging the outer contact for each of the lampolding devices.

3. The combination with a plug, of an outer contact member extendin longitudi-' nally of the plug and having a ange on its 11116! end, an innerlamp-terminal-contacting edge of a disk 24. This disk 24 is formed of p plate sup orted by said flange, an inner contact mem er on said plug, a plate electrically connected with said inner contact member and a plurality of lamp-holding devices supported thereby.

4. In a plug-cluster, the combination of a plug carrying a plurality of lamp-holding devices, a central contact upon the outer end of said plug, means for providing electrical connection between said center contact and the outer contacts of the lamps, ainouter contact member upon said plug, said member being formed with a shoulder adjacent the inner end of the plug, and a contact-plate supported by and in electrical connection with said shoulder, said plate being adapted to engage the center contact of a lamp.

5. In a plug-.clusten'the combination of a plug carrying a plurality of lamp-holding'devices, a center contact upon the outer end'of said plug, means providing electrical connec' tion between said center contact and the outer contacts of the lamps, an outer contact member upon said plug, said member being formed with an outturned end adjacent, the

inner end of the plug, and a contact member sup orted by and in electrical connection wit 1 said outturned end and ada ted to engage the center contact of each 0 the lamps.

6. In a plug-cluster, a plu of insulating material carrying a plurality o lamp-holding devices, a center and an outer contact memseaeaa ber upon said plug to cooperate-with the contact of a suitab e socket, said outer contact member having a flange upon its inner end, a plate supported by said flange and adapted to engage the center contactof a lam a bolt extending longitudinally throug the plug, and a plate carried by said bolt, said plate being adapted to con- 40 duct current to the outer contacts of a plurality of lamp-holding devices.

7. In a plug-cluster, a pin a center contact member extending t erethrough, a

plate supported by said membena plurality of threaded shells carried. by said plate, and a casing having 0 enings for the reception of lamps, said she being arranged in said openings and su portin said casing.

8. In a plug-c uster, t e combination of a casing having openings, a sleeve extending outwardlyfrom each of said 0 enings and fixed to said casing, threaded s ells in said sleeves supporting said-casing a plug, a

member extending centrally t rough said plug and supporting said shells and conducting current t ereto.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two 

